Combination tool



1,636,637 July 19 1927 T. s. HUTcHlsoN 1 COMBINATIDN TOOL Filed July 31, 1926 2 sheets-sheet 1 T. S. HUTCHISON COMBINATION TOOL July 19,1927. r 1,636,637

Filed July 51, 1926 2 Sheets-sheet 2 ll'z'g?.

l Patented .luly 19, 1927-.A

UNIT-ED lsm'ras A 1,636,637 PATENT' OFFICE.

moms snrznn nu'rcmsou, or omcaa'o,v rumors.

conmemora-Toor.. Appunti mea my a1, 1m. n. man;

'My present invention relates to improvements 1nl combined -measuring and agin implements, more particularly to devices o this character employed bymechanics, such 5 as carpenters and metal workers', and by draftsmen,and has for one of its objects to simplify and im rove the construction and increase the eiciency. and utility of devices of this character.

Another object of the invention is to provide an implement' which is simple in construction, is extremely compact, and which may be quickly and accurately adjusted to n roduce a trysquare, aT square, a bevel --a'd- )ustable to any required angle, and-arranged for use right or left handed as may be preferred, a protractor for measuring angles, a compass, and a scratch awl guide, in addition to other uses within the scope of the knowledge and ingenuity of the user.

With these and'other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features ofl construction as hereinafter shown and described'and then ,specifically pointed out in the claims.

' In the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure l is a plan view of my improved implement arranged for use as a ruler or gage.

' 30 Figure 2 is a side view of Figure 1 showi ing side graduationsior reading when the tool is used as a gage. y y Figure 3 is a bottom view, broken away," of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a section `on vthe line 4.--4 of .Figure 1, showing the details of construction of 'the thumb screw lock. v

Figure- 5 is va view, partly broken away,- showing the thumb Iscrew guiding slots.

Fi res 6 and 7 are top and side views of the evice fully extended, and adapted for use asaruler. 4 Figure 8 is a plan View of the device when set for use as a T square.

i l Figure 13 is a sectional detail *on the line and .extendln Figure 9 is a plan view of the device when set for usek as a trysquare or as a scratch awl `reference characters.

My improved implement comprises `an up er and lower ruler of relatively thin material for ordi-nary use or when carried as a pocket tool, but may have a heavier and more substantial lower ruler for use by ca rpeuters and other mechanics who prefer av eavybase to compensatel for any roughness of the wood or other material worked upon.

My improved combination tool comprises an upper ruler l and a lower ruler 2, each ruler havin 'a slot`3, 4 centrally positioned along substantially the entirelengtli. ach ruler has scales engraved on the upper face in the usual manner, the scales on each ruler reading in reverse di.- rections, as clearly shown inFigure 6. Inaddition, the lower ruler has an. index mark engraved on one edge, to cooperate with a reverse scaleengraved on the corresponding side of the upper ruler, as shown in Figure 2, this reverse scale registering exactly with the reverse scale on the upper faceof upper ruler 1;

An internally threaded thumb screw 5 is vused for locking the two rulers in any 'desired position, ythe screw rotating .on a

threaded standard 6 having flanges 7 formed ar or preferably square base integral w'it the standard, the flanges being slidable within grooves 8 formed within lower ruler '2, as best shown in Figure 4.

lThe standard 6 has a centering hole 9 for the insertion of a pin or a nail to ,act asa pivot when the tool is used as a compass.' A l 95 washer 10, loosely mounted on standard 6 below thumb screw 5, clamps the rulers together when the thumb screw is tightened. A centering hole 12, shown in Figure 1, is used as a pencil retaining hole for drawing circles when centering hole 9 is used as a. compass center bythe insertion of a pin, nail, or other object of similar* character;

' for drawing larger circles, centering hole 12 is used as' the pivot point, and diamond shaped opening 11 as the pencil, or when desirable, knife itioning opening.

l Attention is directed to the culiar ad'- vanta offered by the use `o 'a diamond`v shape opening such as opening 11 of my 110 improved combination tool. A pencil point inserted within this opening wedges itself irrespective of thickness of lead so that the mark is always centered on thepoints of the diamond; since this opening 1s located a definite distance, preferably onereighth inch, from the end of ruler l, accurate positioning of the inscribing pencil is obtained. In

addition, when workmg with sheet metal,

etc., a knife blade may be inserted tp make a clear circular cut.

When using my improved combination tool as a ruler, the upper and lower rulers are drawn. out to full length as shown in Fi 're 6, the thumb screw being turned to l c the two rulers together. This forms a two foot metal ruler, adjustable to shorter .lengths when desirable. The inverted scales shown in Figure 1, and the side graduations shown in Figure 2, permit my combination tool to be used as a depth or as -an-inside gage, the two` rectangular edges acting as 'the outside edges. For measuring a recess .or an outside shoulder situated so that vdirect reading is not feasible, ruler 1 may be swung around so that the square end is adjacent the square end of the lower ruler 2, thus enabling quick and accurate setting to be made.

My improved combination tool may be used as a T square by locking the upper ruler 1 intov ooves 14 formed in the lower ruler'2. ,Thls position `is shown in Figure 8. The use of grooves ensures an accurate and rigid setting of` the tool.

My improved tool may also be transformed into an accurate trysquare by locking ruler 1 in grooves :14 in the manner Jshown in Figure .9. In this position my device not only is an eiicient trysquarc, but

-may also be used as a scratch awl guide', the

diamond opening 11 aiording accurate centerlng for a pencil, a scratch awl, or a knife blade.

To change my improved implement into a bevel rulers 1 and 3 are positioned as shown in- Flgure 10. A series of graduations are provided on the circular end of ruler 1, this end being beveled as shown in Figures 11 and 12 for ease in reading. An inscribed arrow 17, shown in Figure 12, 'is

used to determine accurate setting of thev angle marks 16. When used as a' protractor, my improved tool is set to the angle desired to be determined, the arrow 17| then indicating the angular reading.

In addition to the previously explained use ofmy device as a compass by pivoting Ona nail or other similar implement insertved through openings 9 or 12, simultaneous markingof two .concentric circles may be made by using a setting of the device sim- ,ilar to that shown in Figure 10, openings .-'11 ande" 12 serving to guide the marking tools. v f v "Figure 13 shows a modified form of my im' roved device, in which the lower ruler eavier than the upper one; the heavier base'is preferred by carpenters and other I mechanics who deal with wood or other materlals having rough surfaces.

-My improved implement is simple of construction, is inexpensive to manufacture, and furnishes themechanic with a single device accurately adjustable for a variety of pur oses..v The cost of my improved combination 'tool is but little more than the cost of a single tool, butvit is far more advan-` ta ecus than separate tools, is more portab e, and convenient, and is of a high order of accuracy.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to bev understood as limiting myself to the precise details'of. construction hereinbefore described and illustrated, since changes may be made in the form, proportion, and construction of the several parts without departing from the principle of my invention as dened in the appended claims. Having thus described my mvention, what I claim 1s: Y

1. In an implement of the class described,

two rulers having scales thereon, each ruler being provided with a longitudinal slotz a clam ing thumb .screw cooperating with the s ots to set 'the rulers in a desired relative position, said thumb screw having a centering hole therethrou h,\and one of the rulers having a diamond s aped lopening adjacent one end.

' 2. In an implement of the class described,

two rulers having scales thereon, each ruler being provided with a longitudinal slot,

clamping means cooperating with the slots to set the rulers in a desired relative position, and grooves cut in one ruler te accommodate the other ruler for accurately posi- 4tioning one ruler at a` predetermined angle to the other, one ruler having an opening adjacent one end.

- 3. In an implement of the class described,l

set 't e rulers in a esired relative position,v grooves cut-1n one ruler to accommodate the other ruler for accurately positioning one ruler at a predetermined angle to the ot-her,` each ruler having `one rounded edge, the

described, v

each ruler rounded edge of one ruler having angular graduations marked thereon, the rounded edge of the other ruler having an index mark thereon.

5. In an implement of the class described, two rulers having scales running in opposite directions thereon, each ruler being provided With a longitudinal slot, clamping means cooperating with the slots to set the rulers in a desired relative position, grooves cut in one ruler' toy accommodate the other ruler for accurately positioning one ruler at a lpredetermined angle to the other, each' ru er having one rounded edge, the rounded edge of one ruler having angular graduations marked thereon, the rounded ed e of "the other ruler having an index mark t 1ereon, the other end of each ruler having an opening thereinadjacent the edge.

Signed at Nashville, in the county of Davidson and State of Tennessee, this 29 day of July A. D. 1926.

THOMAS SETZER HUTCHISON. 

